Edward Bullough, best known for his work on physical distance in art and aesthetics, became Serena Professor of Italian at Cambridge in 1933. In this 1920 work, Bullough gives a rich and varied account of Italian thought in the long nineteenth century. In order to give the reader an overview of Italian authors and their works, Bullough engages with the work of lesser-known writers to produce a wide-ranging account of a country in its literary and political ‘reawakening’. At a time when British readers of Italian knew relatively little of Italy, Bullough’s text came as a welcome exploration of the relationship between Italian authors, their writings, and their country. It will continue to be enjoyed by readers of nineteenth-century Italian literature today, particularly those with an interest in those writing outside the literary spotlight.